toad

Corporate eating for the last few days. Not all in one place, but a random selection of coincidences which have led me to have suppers, breakfasts, lunches and so on in various meeting situations.

In amongst the posh food was a 'toad in the hole' lunch option served yesterday as part of a meeting interlude. "C3" they are calling it. "Credit Crunch Cuisine".

"Gravy" optional?

snoopy

Surprised to see this little gadget pop into my eye- line a couple of days ago. I noticed the movement first and thought it was a flag or something, but no, it was a little pop-up camera complete with a motorised wiper.

Now I know I may occasionally get up to some mischief, but I thought this level of cross checking was perhaps a little extreme.

Anyway, I sidled over to the window and found the stealthy truck to which the camera was attached. Its here

cakiness

a sunny birthday & cakes later.

Haymarket

More West End zapping yesterday stopping for agreeable Italian food and then a show.

Taxis were somewhat rare, but I guess the area had extra people from the various events during the day and the evening rain didn't really help.

So we did one of those "share a taxi to multiple destinations" things and sort of passed the money forward to the last person sitting.

fireworks

I spent part of the weekend staying in a room by the embankment near Temple tube. So what? I hear you cry.

Well it just happened to be right by the side of both the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday and then overlooking the barge with all of the fireworks for Saturday evening.

I wish I could say we'd planned it that way, but it was just pure co-incidence. I must admit, when I spotted a few Roman soldiers running past the windows and then a large straw version of Gog and Magog, then I realized something was happening.

It turned out that the very road was being used as the halfway house staging post for the procession and then in the evening the whole stretch of the River Thames was packed with people wanting to see the fireworks show.

I simply moved to the window to look across to see everything.

TX5F taxi

Well, the new design TX5F London taxis are going to be easier to spot in the street.

Apparently tourists were complaining about the visibility of black cabs and cyclists have asked for a softer exterior to taxis (and buses) as part of general improvements to London road safety. The high visibility roof extensions are multi-purpose, containing a GPS radio system, Wifi linkages which extend between similarly equipped vehicles and also provide another aid to spotting taxis in busy streets. Original criticisms about wind resistance have proved unfounded, because taxis have an average speed of 8.3 mph in the central area.

This prototype was sighted at the rainy Lord Mayor's show on Saturday, as was this gentleman trying to hail one of the more conventional designs.

Michelle Shocked - keep on rockin 'Shel.

A perfect evening; We were with a favourite troubadour artist at a favourite venue. Michelle Shocked at Union Chapel.

We met across the road from the Chapel. In the Library, which, of course was really a pub serving Belgian Monks' beer. We sat outside so that we could watch for the doors to open.

By 7:15 pm we were in the line, speculating about the support act named Shelly, whilst fireworks flashed in the November skies. We bagged some prime seats and left coats sprawled whilst we exited through a side door to the adjoining bar (no drinking of alcohol in the chapel).
We sipped Red Stripe, until they announced the support act was ready to start. Not everyone watches support acts, but I usually do, so we headed back into the pews.

Some surprise as a hoodied figure was already singing and playing guitar. 'Shelly' was actually Michelle Shocked, doing the support act herself. Older songs in a plain acoustic style, homage to the Campfire Tapes. Already excellent and with a fine violin accompaniment.

A short pause and then Michelle returned, minus the hooded tracksuit and now with a small band. A mix of songs, some new and plenty from the formidable back catalogue.

Michelle Shocked is a great performer, with a blend of stories and songs; plenty of narrative and good ways to relate to the audience. The band 's musicians are all highly accomplished too, and the performance has spontaneity and sufficient confidence to veer from a set list as the evening's mood dictates.

Michelle Shocked's career spans from the 1980s through to now. For this show it was great was to see the energy, enthusiasm and connection with the audience throughout the performance. Beyond simple professionalism, here is a performer who has experienced plenty and has produced an accompanying soundtrack. Always fiercely independent, convinced of her causes and creating messages within her lyrics, Shocked was on top form for this gig.

We all left the gig with big smiles from an excellent evening. It goes into my top gigs list.

re think

Locked away with piles of work papers today and surviving on cups of tea.

Harrogate's finest.

I seemed to finish yesterday evening at about 02:30 and then started today at around 07:30. I reckon I have another 3-4 hours tonight and then I'll be around where I need to be with this piece of work. I spotted one of my earlier notes which said "may need rethink".

Gulp.

I hope not at this stage.

ch

...the beginning of change. 77 days left, George. Just don't touch anything else.

And heres a little fireworks song as its the 5th of November.

US election result : Obama Landslide

You should see the look on George's face as he tosses the keys to Barack.

A smirk.

He's trashed the joint.

Not just the White House. America. And as much of the rest of the neighborhood as he could get his hands on.


Fortunately, rashbre central has poll-free advanced notice of the final outcome.

But for traditionalists there's music from Wonkette to accompany the incoming official results.

Tunes with the word 'change' seem appropriate.

And winking.

Don't forget.

Post early and post often.

Like Homer here with the voting machine.



And here's the entire Dixville Notch, New Hampshire voting process. 2 mins 35 seconds from vote to result

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loaded

There's no 'luck of the draw' with parking in central London. You have to know where the meters and car parks are, the right zones and have that phone system set up for around Westminster. I have a few favourite places to park if I need to leave the car in the central area, but every so often will come unstuck.

Last Sunday it was Camden that caught me when I'd parked to load a big bag into the car. I'd parked in one area, got out, checked the signs and it said 'Residents Only'. So I moved to another bay further away which said 'loading 20 minutes'. It was around the corner from where I needed to pick up the bag - a two minute walk each way.

A casual look for a non motorised warden - none to be seen. A speedy return trip with the bag.

Ticketed.

In about 6 minutes.

I did protest on the web form to Camden, but they just let it run until I phoned them.

"If you are loading, it has to be clear to the warden that you are doing so, you need to be going back and forth to the vehicle.", they explained. It amounted to pay now at half price or argue more and eventually pay the full fine. So I paid the £60. Ten quid a minute.

Still - it would have been £20 a minute if I'd continued the argument.

breakfast concept

Sunday, slow start, newspapers. breakfast. Sometimes so. Today, hurried because of a rather busy schedule.

It started with visitors who have had to move out of their house after the unfortunate incident with the toaster.

Lets say the loss adjuster has suggested they take at least four months rental at alternate premises whilst the damage is fixed.

And in parallel with that we had the arrival of large quantities of luggage requiring repacking and transportation around part of London. And the reappearance of the still waterlogged Ka.

At least the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was relatively quiet during the evening whilst I scooted around on errands.